BST meeting with Julian Winter ; October 2023

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Blackpool Supporters’ Trust
Monthly Meeting Notes between Julian Winter and BST
Wednesday 18th October via ZOOM 6pm
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Present: Julian Winter (BFC), Andy Higgins (BST Chair,) Mike Latham and Mark Turner (BST leads on item 1), Francis Charlesworth (BST Membership Secretary)
The meeting lasted for just over an hour.

Item 1 : BST Website
As a professional courtesy, Mike and Mark demonstrated a new updated Trust website which is currently under development. BST are about to embark upon a wider exercise in sharing and approving this key management tool with Trust Members, including getting their feedback on layout, content and design.
This consultation process will enable BST to produce the best possible structure, have a positive impact for its members and will incorporate new content - including reworked and updated aims of the Trust, its values, its meanings, its behaviours and promises.
Mike explained the Trust has transitioned since the change of ownership from being a protest group to being an organisation focused on having a positive impact for fans, club and community. He ran through the various sections of the, as yet unpublished, beta version of the site with Julian.
The intention is to launch the website in early November after a period of consultation regarding the content with interested BST members. We asked for volunteers to test all aspects of the new site (which contains our proposed revised aims, values, promises etc.) in our Newsletter of 8th October. It is not too late for Members to do so. We would welcome feedback on all aspects, including the proposed revised aims, values, promises etc. but also any areas where we can make beneficial additions to the website content and functionality. Contact us at:
listening@blackpoolsupporterstrust.com
Formal adoption of the updated key information will then be voted on by Members at the upcoming BST AGM on 9th December 2023

Item 2 : Back Henry Street
This item, tabled by the club, was to offer some clarity over the article that recently appeared in the Sun newspaper, claiming that residents of Henry Street were suddenly being forced to leave their homes prior to Christmas as a result of the Club’s East stand development plans.
The Sun had approached Blackpool Council for comment prior to running the article and despite some fair and balanced feedback from the Council, it was surprised that the newspaper chose to produce such an inflammatory article.
The Council explained that a long period of consultation had been underway, that some residents had already agreed to vacate their premises and that others were engaged in ongoing negotiations, strongly refuting that anybody was in imminent danger of being evicted.
The letters sent to the residents are generated by Blackpool Council, as the Council leads on matters of property acquisitions.

Item 3 : Youth Engagement
This was introduced by Francis who explained the Trust’s focus on engaging with and helping to encourage the next generation of Blackpool fans. We are keen to explore if there are ways in which the Trust could work more closely with the Club and the Blackpool FC Community Trust in this area.
In recent years the Trust worked with the club and the Community Trust to provide BFC shirts to year 2 schoolchildren in Blackpool and currently funds mascot packages and the adult / junior season ticket initiative for all home games.
Julian explained that the club has approximately 1,100 season ticket holders across the Under 21, Under 18, Under 12 and Under 5 categories. The younger ST holders can join the Junior Seasiders which runs events at Christmas and Easter, send out birthday cards and offers opportunities to be a match day mascot. Julian also explained some of the initiatives he had overseen in his time at Huddersfield to engage with younger fans and to encourage youth representation in fan / club matters. He did though point out that initiatives must be suitable for the clubs where they are undertaken.
If we could weave the Trust’s initiatives closer to those championed by the Club and Community Trust there is the potential to reach and engage with more young fans. Julian is now a trustee of the Community Trust and is happy for more discussions and exploration to take place in this area. There may also be potential to explore mutually beneficial links between the Young Seasiders offer and BST Junior membership.

Item 4 : Communication 
We focused on how the Club shares information and key messages with the fanbase. Julian had previously committed to a further Structured Dialogue meeting and a Fans Forum prior to Christmas 2023 – details of these will be announced shortly.
The club is also currently working on a fans survey and a fans charter and more details on these will be available soon. Julian explained how he is at the start of his journey with BFC and appreciates how all clubs are all different, complex and have their own histories. He is very conscious of Blackpool’s recent history and is mindful of these sensitivities, so is keen to do what he believes are the right things and to improve communications.
The club was invited to provide representation at the Trust’s AGM this December, as last year two BFC directors (Ben Mansford and Brett Gerrity) held a question-and-answer session which was appreciated by the attendees. Julian committed to get back to us on this and to balance this with what takes place at the Structured Dialogue and Fans Forum.

Any Other Business
A few other matters were briefly discussed.
The club is planning a further communication before the next home game regarding incidents of crowd behaviour which appear in the referee’s match report of the Stevenage game. The club is required to investigate any incidents from match reports and in the communication will remind supporters that the club is currently on an ‘FA Action Plan’ with the potential of sanctions.
The next meetings with Julian are scheduled to take place on November 15th and December 13th and agenda items will be agreed beforehand. We thanked Julian for his time and hope this is one of many more productive future meetings.
The Trust welcomes any input from its members for future agenda or AOB items using
listening@blackpoolsupporterstrust.com
BST Committee
 
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Thanks for this update.

Whilst I completely get some people will find it a bit dry and process driven, the club is ultimately a business and needs to engage with stakeholders the way other businesses would do. I'm glad BST do it it so I don't have to and can just get on with following the football side. I'm sure it amounts to being a part time job for those involved., so I certainly appreciate the time they give and the professional manner in which they do it.

Also, as I'm sure it will come up, we as don't need to be creating bones of contention and points to be hostile and adversarial over with the club, if none exist.

This is peacetime considering some of the periods we've been through, let's not provoke a conflict out of boredom.
 
All sounds positive. Well done to all sides for this initiative. Very easy ( as most of us do) to sit on our backsides and expect everything to roll along. BST now have this ‘new’ role and communication between them (us) and the club can only be a good thing.
 
All positive. Could I just ask if at all the club expanded on item 2 off of the record or if they opted not to expand - as I’m sure they were probably posed with further questions regarding the East stand development? I appreciate it’s one of those things that those involved won’t want to put a quote out about until the inks dry so don’t expect detail.
 
LA1 Seasider said:
All positive. Could I just ask if at all the club expanded on item 2 off of the record or if they opted not to expand - as I’m sure they were probably posed with further questions regarding the East stand development? I appreciate it’s one of those things that those involved won’t want to put a quote out about until the inks dry so don’t expect detail.
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No nothing out of the ordinary LA1. The main thing discussed was the club and council being pretty surprised and disappointed by the Sun's inflammatory story. The overlying theme is that taking the steps to have the land clear for development is a stage in a process that will ultimately see the stand built. As with any complex project or series of projects, there will need to be an order in which the whole wider development takes place. Where a new east stand sits development-wise in that order of events wasn't discussed this time.
 
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So this is the way it is now BST going off and having another meeting with the club without involvement from any other fans group?

So much for wider dialogue with the fanbase

That's 2 meetings now with the club with no other fans group involved

Dont tell me the club and the SLO are still trying to finalise affiliates, charters and associations whilst waiting for the government white paper and feedback from the FSA
 
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Phil_bfc deux said:
So this is the way it is now BST going off and having another meeting with the club without involvement from any other fans group?

So much for wider dialogue with the fanbase

That's 2 meetings now with the club with no other fans group involved

Dont tell me the club and the SLO are still trying to finalise affiliates, charters and associations whilst waiting for the government white paper and feedback from the FSA
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Christ on a bike. Has the penny still not dropped yet?
 
Is item 2 really item 1 or were Mike and Mark also representing the council? It reads like they were there to demo the website in the minutes? Surely that's leading on item 1? I'm confused.
 
Really surprised that we only have around 1100 ST holders at u21 and below. I see many younger fans at games, so we’ve clearly got work to do, to hook them on ST’s. Hopefully this will be a high priority for ST pricing next season.
 
April13th1970 said:
Certainly not me nor my late father who, following the abuse he received from some BST supporters prior to lockdown, went to his grave feeling unable to go and watch the team he'd followed for over 80 years
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So how exactly did the events unfold with your late father that gave rise to him feeling unable to go and watch his team ?
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
So how exactly did the events unfold with your late father that gave rise to him feeling unable to go and watch his team ?
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People who said they were BST screaming abuse at him because he refused to join in the "Oyston Out" chants prior to NAPM

Which was a really nice way to treat a vulnerable 80+ year old.

Fortunately, they had the good sense to walk away when I stepped in front of my father to tell them exactly what sort of bottom feeding pond scum they were
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
So this is the way it is now BST going off and having another meeting with the club without involvement from any other fans group?

So much for wider dialogue with the fanbase

That's 2 meetings now with the club with no other fans group involved

Dont tell me the club and the SLO are still trying to finalise affiliates, charters and associations whilst waiting for the government white paper and feedback from the FSA
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Here we go. You're a lone voice, shouting in the wilderness.
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
Nobody who was officially representing BST would ever have done anything of the sort.

They were reticent to even ‘officially’ back the NAPM campaign at all the in the early stages.
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Were you there? Did you see what happened? that's a "No" on both counts unless you were one of the pieces of shit involved.

If you weren't , then back off and don't defend the indefensible (I've genuinely enjoyed the majority of your posts on here and don't want to fall out with you)
 
1966_and_all_that said:
Then ignore them. I am a member of BST. Am I not allowed to be your friend?
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'66 I've no problem with you, we may have disagreed on some topics but overall, you seem a decent guy who's posts I generally enjoy reading.

I have no issues with the vast majority of BST members, however, I refuse to be part of, or represented by, an organisation that harbours under it's umbrella the sort of thugs that drove my father away from the club he loved and broke his heart
 
April13th1970 said:
Were you there? Did you see what happened? that's a "No" on both counts unless you were one of the pieces of shit involved.

If you weren't , then back off and don't defend the indefensible (I've genuinely enjoyed the majority of your posts on here and don't want to fall out with you)
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I don’t need to have been there.. it’s bollocks mate, simple as.

It’s not about defending the indefensible, I know all of the committee members personally and none of them would advocate that behaviour or behave in that way.

Of course, you can’t legislate for what any individual supporter might do, but they didn’t do that in BST’s name that is for absolute certain.
 
@The Sun had approached Blackpool Council for comment prior to running the article and despite some fair and balanced feedback from the Council, it was surprised that the newspaper chose to produce such an inflammatory article.'

Can't believe they were suprsied at that.
 
April13th1970 said:
'66 I've no problem with you, we may have disagreed on some topics but overall, you seem a decent guy who's posts I generally enjoy reading.

I have no issues with the vast majority of BST members, however, I refuse to be part of, or represented by, an organisation that harbours under it's umbrella the sort of thugs that drove my father away from the club he loved and broke his heart
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Sorry to hear that 13/4/70. I stood outside Bloomfield protesting then, with my two year season ticket, I'd go in for about 15 mins and walk out in disgust. If anyone had tried to assault me for going in, I'd have belted them. There is no place for that sort of thing. I do not believe that BST stands for that nonsense and if there are people in BST who did that, then they will have to reconcile their actions with themselves as they grow up.
Do not let those idiots define you. They don't define me.
 
April13th1970 said:
People who said they were BST screaming abuse at him because he refused to join in the "Oyston Out" chants prior to NAPM

Which was a really nice way to treat a vulnerable 80+ year old.

Fortunately, they had the good sense to walk away when I stepped in front of my father to tell them exactly what sort of bottom feeding pond scum they were
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So was this in or outside the ground?
 
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1966_and_all_that said:
Those days are gone. Carry your prejudices lightly or they might eat you.
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I'm fine with them completely fine

As I was marching outside in the rain after a 3 hour journey to not see a match the current BST secretary was sat inside the ground posting on this site criticising the protesters

I won't forget that and to be frank I very much doubt you were involved in any of the direct action protests so your opinion on all this matters not to me

You should feel honoured that I even respond to some of your nonsense
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
I don’t need to have been there.. it’s bollocks mate, simple as.

It’s not about defending the indefensible, I know all of the committee members personally and none of them would advocate that behaviour or behave in that way.

Of course, you can’t legislate for what any individual supporter might do, but they didn’t do that in BST’s name that is for absolute certain.
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BFCx3, I never said they were BST committee members, who I'm sure are decent people, just that they said they were part of BST and as a result, I feel unable to trust or be a part of any group that, perhaps unwittingly, embraces them.

Anyway, I don't want to fall out with you or anyone else over this so let's agree to disagree and move on
 
April13th1970 said:
BFCx3, I never said they were BST committee members, who I'm sure are decent people, just that they said they were part of BST and as a result, I feel unable to trust or be a part of any group that, perhaps unwittingly, embraces them.

Anyway, I don't want to fall out with you or anyone else over this so let's agree to disagree and move on
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So, some lads have had a go at your Dad but also included in their abuse that they were BST members?
 
April13th1970 said:
BFCx3, I never said they were BST committee members, who I'm sure are decent people, just that they said they were part of BST and as a result, I feel unable to trust or be a part of any group that, perhaps unwittingly, embraces them.

Anyway, I don't want to fall out with you or anyone else over this so let's agree to disagree and move on
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What does "Part f BST" mean though?

I don't even get why anyone would say that.... Are you sure you've not just assumed they were associated with BST, because BST were the Public Face of the campaign?

I get you want to move on mate, but it's completely unfair of you to tarnish an organisation (especially one that through it's policies would have been totally against any kind of intimidatory behaviour) due to the actions of individual people, wo were clearly not acting for the organisation.

Even during the NAPM campaign, BST always stuck to very clear principles and always maintained that fans should be free to choose whether to join the boycott or attend and rightly so.
 
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